Carton feeding apparatus



Feb. 21, 1967 L. VADAS ETAL 3,305,068

CARTON FEEDING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 21, 1966 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 'Tll3 l 26 P2 26 28 INVENTORS I LESLIE VADAS 2 ROBERT W. DRAKE BY m Z Wu ATTORNEY Feb. 21, 1967 L. VADAS ETAL 3,305,068

CARTON FEEDING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 21, 1966 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 T'IE 2 INVENTORS LESLIE VADAS ROBERT W. DRAKE ATTORNEY CARTON FEEDING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 21, 1966 6 Sheets-Sheet I5 21 334 6 I O, f

A I J. I 232 (I I O t, 3,) I I 4 /'206 b 204 2 a r 260 250 INVENTORS 56A LESLIE VADAS 2 2 34 ROBERT w. DRAKE Ll q BY W M W L@ ATTORNEY Feb. 21, 1967 Filed Jan. 21, 1966 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 L; 1 30o 6L 0 2 8 o 6 330 I I 342/: i225 304 2 I l r 32 339 302 2.- 40 g g 27H r35 7 52? i /2\s 338 362 7/ 734 4G 6*"282 46 48 n 272 7 48 2'24 2'74 I 276 L ZZZ 292 A a Z- m Ill 50 I l i i 1 54 INVENTORS LESLIE VADAS ROBERT W. DRAKE T BY M ATTORNEY Feb. 21, I967 LVADAS ETAL 3,305,068

CARTON FEEDING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 21, 1966 6 Sheets-Sheet INVENTORS LESLIE VADAS ROBERT W. DRAKE MMW ATTORNEY Feb. 21, 1967 L. VADAS ETAL 3,305,068

CARTON FEEDING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 21, 1966 e Sheets-Sheet e INVENTORS LESLIE VADAS noazm w. DRAKE BY WW ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,305,068 CARTON FEEDING APPARATUS Leslie Vadas, San Jose, and Robert W. Drake, Los Gatos, Calif., assignors to FMC Corporation, San Jose, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Filed Jan. 21, 1966, SerrNo. 522,285 10 Claims. (Cl. 198-32) The present invention pertains to carton forming and filling machines and more particularly relates to a carton feeding apparatus arranged to receive cartons from two rows and to feed the cartons into spaced carriers of a single continuously driven conveyor.

The carton feeding apparatus of the present invention is adapted for use in a carton forming and filling machine of the type disclosed in the copending application of Leslie Vadas et al., Serial No. 461,738, which application was filed on June 7, 1965, and is assigned to the assignee of the present invention.

In the above mentioned carton form-ing and filling machine a carton accumulator is provided which supports two rows of empty cartons. The cartons in each row are deflected one at a time out of the associated accumulator row, and are received on one end on a dead plate for deflection by pivoted arms into spaced carriers supported on a continuously driven conveyor. It has been discovered that since the pivoted arms must engage each carton at a pick-up position, transfer the carton into the carrier and return to the pick-up position before the next carton enters the pick-up position, the rate of movement of the arms is so rapid as to unreliably transfer the cartons into the carriers thereby causing objectionable carton ams.

1 It is therefore one object of the present invention to provide an improved carton feeding apparatus which is reliable in operation.

Another object is to provide a carton feeding apparatus which gently places the cartons into carriers of a continuously driven conveyor. 1

Another object is to provide a carton feeder which receives the cartons from two rows and gently feeds the cartons into alternate carriers of a continuously moving conveyor.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an end elevation of a portion of-a carton forming and filling machine having the carton feeding apparatus of the present invention associated therewith, certain parts of one of the transfer turrets being cut away.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of the portion of the machine shown in FIGURE 1 taken looking in the direction of arrows 2-2 of FIGURE 1, certain parts being cut away.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged horizontal section taken substantially along lines 3-3 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a vertical central section of a crimping turret which cooperates with the feed mechanism of the present invention to receive the double row of cartons and positively seat the cartons into carriers arranged in a single row on an endless conveyor that is trained around the turret, said section being taken looking in the same direction as FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged horizontal section taken along the lines 5-5 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged horizontal section taken' along lines 6-6 of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged vertical section of a pivotal gate taken along lines 7-7 of FIGURE 3, the figure being included on the same sheet as FIGURE 3.

FIGURES 8 and 9 are operational views illustrating the manner in which the crimping heads engage the top ways 72 of. the chutes 22 and 24, the

the stationary frame 54.

3,305,068 Patented Feb. 21, 1967 closure of a carton and force the carton downwardly into the carrier as soon as the carton is advanced off a dead plate.

In general, the feeding apparatus 20 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 3) of the present invention includes a pair of chutes 22 and 24 which receive cartons that are displaced from the lower ends of accumulating guideways 26 and 28, respectively, by pushers 30 and 32, respectively. The cartons which drop from the chutes 22 and 24 are received on a dead plate 34 in position to be engaged by transfer turrets 36 and 38, respectively. The transfer turrets 36 and 38 gently transfer the cartons into the path of movement of transfer arms 40 of a carton crimping turret 42. The transfer arms 40 gently receive the cartons and advance them off the end of the dead plate 34. Immediately prior to reaching the end of the dead plate 34, one of a plurality of crimping heads 44 of the crimping turret 42 enters each carton and as each carton moves off the dead plate 34, pushes the carton downwardly into one of a plurality of carriers 46 of a continuously driven conveyor 48.

Although the chutes 22, 24; the pushers 30, 32; and the crimping turret 42; and the manner of supporting and operating these components are substantially the same as described in the aforementioned Vadas et al. application, these components will be described in combination with the transfer turrets 36 and 38 since they cooperate with the turrets 36 and 38 to define the feeding apparatus 20 of the present invention.

In order to accommodate cartons C of different heights, such as quart, pint, one-third quart, and one-half pint cartons, the dead plate 34 and conveyor 48 are supported by a vertically adjustable frame 50. The adjustable frame 50 is supported by means of a plurality of gear jacks 52 (only one being shown) from a stationary frame 54 and may be adjusted by means fully disclosed in the aforementioned Vadas et a1. application.

The feeding apparatus 20 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 3) includes the carton deflecting chutes 22 and 24 which are associated with the accumulator guideways 26 and 28, respectively. Each chute comprises a slotted substantially horizontal floor plate 66 disposed below the associated guideway 26 or 28 which acts as a support for the column of cartons in the associated guideway and is formed integrally with a vertical extending rear wall 67. A similarly shaped vertically extending front wall 68 is connected to the rear wall 67 by a vertical side wall 69 and a curved side wall 71. The four walls cooperate to define a carton deflecting passageway 72 (FIG. 3) which guides each carton as it slides down the curved wall 71 to a vertical position with its top closure TC (FIGS. 8 and 9) uppermost.

The chutes 22 and 24 are bolted to brackets 73 and 74 which are formed integrally on a horizontal, stationary support member 77 of a turret sub-frame 78.

In order to deflect cartons in to the deflecting passagecarton pushers 30 and 32 push the lowermost cartons in the associated guideways 26 or 28 off the floor plates 66 and into the passageways 72 of the respective chutes 22 or 24. Each carton pusher 30 and 32 comprises a bell crank 79 pivoted on a shaft 81 secured to the sub-frame 78 and held from axial movement by collars 82. A pusher foot 83 is bolted to the upper end of each bell crank 79, and downwardly extending links 84 and 86 are pivotally connected to the other end of the bell crank 79 of pushers 30 and 32, re spectively. The lower ends of the links 84 and 86 are slidably received in a block 87 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 5) that is pivoted in a yoke 88 formed on one end of an actuating lever 89 that is pivoted at its other end about a bolt 91 (FIG. 2) which is connected to a bracket 92 secured to Compression springs 93 are disposed around the links 84 and 86 and between the block 87 and collars 94 keyed to the links 84 and 86' Thus, upward movement of the block 87 will normally cause both pushers 30 and 32 to deflect cartons into the associated chutes 22 and 24. The block 87 is vertically reciprocated in timed relation with the movement of the conveyor 48 by a cam 96 which is splined on the lower end of a vertical cam shaft 97 for rotation therewith and for vertical movement relative thereto. The cam 96 is held from vertical movement between an upper horizontal portion 98 and a lower horizontal portion 99 of the bracket 92. A cam follower 101 (FIG. 2) journalled on the lever 89 engages a cam groove 102 in the cam 96 to cause vertical reciprocation of the block 87.

In the event the supply of cartons in one or both of the associated accumulator guideways 26 and 28 (FIG. 1) is low as determined by control means described and claimed in the aforementioned Vadas et al. application, means are provided for deactivating one or both of the pushers- 30 and 32. If the supply of cartons is low in only one of the guideways 26 or 28, it will be understood that the pusher associated therewith will be inactivated while the other pusher operates in a normal manner.

As best shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, bolts 103 and 104 extend through the lower ends of the links 84 and 86, respectively, in positions to be engaged by hooking notches 106. The notches 106 are formed in the upper ends of spaced latching arms 107 and 108 of bell cranks 109 and 111, respectively. The bell cranks are journalled on a shaft 112 that is secured to the lower portion 99 of the bracket 92. The bell crank 109 is pivotally connected to the actuating element 113 of a solenoid 114, which solenoid during normal operation is energized to hold the latching arms 107 out of engagement with the bolts 103 as indicated in FIGURE 2. Similarly, the bell crank 111 is pivotally connected to the actuating element 116 of a solenoid 117 which is energized to hold the latching arms 108 out of engagement with the bolt 104 during normal operation of the machine. A normally open cam switch ICS (FIG. 2) is held closed, and a normally closed cam switch 2CS is held opened by a switch actuating element 120 that is bolted to the block 87 when the parts are in the retracted position indicated in FIGURE 2.

When the supply of cartons is low in one of the accumulator guideways 22 or 28, for example the guideway 26, the solenoid 114 will be de-energized by means disclosed in the aforementioned Vadas et al. application thereby causing the latching arms 107 to engage the bolt 103 and prevent the link 84 from moving upwardly thereby deactivating the pusher 30. It will be appreciated that the spring 93 will yield to permit the block 97 to be reciprocated in the usual manner by the cam 96 thereby causing the pusher 32 to operate in the normal manner while pusher 30 is held from movement by the latching arms 107. The cam shaft 97 is rotatably journalled in bearings in horizontal members 121 and 122, respectively, of a vertically movable feed mechanism sub-frame 124. The upper end of the shaft 97 is held from vertical movement relative to the frame 124 by a gear 126 which is secured to the shaft 97 by a setscrew 127 and is disposed between the members 121 and 122. The sub-frame 124 is of generally rectangular configuration and includes vertical side members 128 and 129 bolted to the horizontal member 122 and to an upper horizontal member 130 as indicated in FIGURES 1 and 2. The lower horizontal member 122 is bolted to webs 131 and 132 which are integral with and project rearwardly from the movable frame 50. Accordingly, the sub-frame 124 and the components thereon are moved vertically with the movable frame 50 when height adjustments are made to adapt the machine to handle cartons of dilferent sizes.

As indicated previously, cartons C are dropped onto the dead plate 34 from the chutes 22 and 24 in position to be engaged by the transfer turrets 36 and 38, respectively. The transfer turret 36 includes an upper transfer disc 36a and a lowertransfer disc 36b of identical peripheral shape. Similarly, the transfer turret 38 includes an upper transfer disc 38a and a lower identically shaped transfer disc 38b. The upper discs 36a and 38a rotate in a fixed horizontal plane whereas the lower discs 36b and 38b are connected to the movable sub-frame 124 of the adjustable frame 50 for vertical adjustment so as to accommodate cartons of different sizes.

The lower horizontal member 122 of the movable subframe 124 is bolted to the webs 131 and 132 and is of irregular shape as indicated in FIGURE 5. The subframe 124 is guided for vertical movement by stationary, vertically extending shafts and 142 which define the axes of rotation of'the transfer turrets 36 and 38, respectively. The lower ends of the shafts 140 and 142 are rigidly secured to hubs 144 (only one being shown in FIGS. 1 and 2) which are bolted to the stationary frame 54. The shafts 140 and 142 extend upwardly through bosses 145 in the horizontal frame members 122 and 130, through holes in the dead plate 34, through the transfer discs 36a, 36b and 38a, 38b, respectively, and have their upper ends connected to the stationary support member 77 by cap screws 146 and 148 respectively. Thus, the stationary support member 77 of sub-frame 78 is held in fixed position by the shafts 140 and 142 and is of irregular shape as indicated in FIGURE 3.

The lower transfer disc 36b (FIG. 1) is set screwed to the upper end of a tubular shaft 150 which is journalled for rotation and for vertical sliding movement on the stationary shaft 140. The tubular shaft 150 is also journalled in the associated bosses 145 and is keyed and set screwed to the hub of a gear 152. Similarly, the lower transfer disc 38!) is keyed and set screwed to a tubular shaft which is journalled for vertical movement as well as for rotation on the stationary shaft 142 and is journalled for rotation in the associated bosses 145 of frame members 122 and 130. A gear 162 is keyed and set screwed to the tubular shaft 160 as indicated in FIGURE 5. The tubular shafts 150 and 160 are held from vertical movement relative to the movable frame member 130 by collars 164 and 166 which engage the associated bosses 145 on the frame member 130 and are keyed to the tubular shafts 150 and 160, respectively. An idler gear 168 is journalled on a bolt 170 secured to the frame member 130 and meshes with the gears 152 and 162 to assure that the transfer turrets 36 and 38 are driven in timed relation and in the same direction.

The dead plate 34 is bolted to a plurality of upstanding pedestals 172 (FIGS. 1 and 2) which are integral with the upper horizontal member 130 of the movable sub-frame 124. Accordingly, the lower transfer discs 36b and 38b are at all times spaced a predetermined distance above the dead plate 34 so as to engage the lower portions of all sizes of cartons being transferred at equal distances above the lower ends thereof.

The transfer discs 36a and 38a are held from vertical movement and the top closures of all sizes of cartons are positioned at a common elevation by suitable adjustment of the adjustable frame 50 thereby making it possible for the transfer turrets 36 and 38 to handle all sizes of cartons by vertically 'a'djusting'only the lower discs 36b and 3812. In this regard, the upper transfer disc 36a is j-ournalled on the shaft 140 and is held from vertical adjustment by collars 174 which are set screwed to the shaft 140. Similarly, the upper transfer disc 38a is journalled on the shaft 142 and is held from vertical movement between collars 176 that are set screwed to the shaft 142.

The upper disc 36a is driven from the lower disc 36!) by a vertical post 178 which is secured by a cap screw to a hub formed on the disc 36b and which is slidably received in a block 180 connected to the upper transfer disc 36a. Similarly, the upper disc 38a is driven from the lower disc 38b by a vertical post 182 which is secured to a hub formed on the disc 38!) and which is slidably received in. a block 184 connected to the upper transfer disc 38b. Thus, the posts 178 and 182 permit vertical movement between the transfer discs 36a, 36b and 38a, 38b and drives the upper discs at the same speed as the corresponding lower discs thereby assuring dependable transfer of the cartons by the turrets 36 and 38.

The transfer discs 36a, 36b and 38a, 38b are driven in a clockwise direction, by means to be described hereinafter, as indicated by the arrows A in FIGURE 3 from the continuously driven crimping turret 42 which is driven in a counterclockwise direction as indicated by arrows B. The upper and lower transfer discs of transfer turret 36 are each provided with three equally spaced outwardly projecting transfer fingers 190. The fingers 190 include carton contacting surfaces 192 which engage the cartons that gravitate onto the dead plate 34 from the chute 22 and advance the cartons along an arcuate path and into position to be engaged by every second transfer arm 40 of the crimping turret 42. When one of the fingers 190 on each disc 36a and 36b is aligned with an associated transfer arm 40 of the turret 42 as indicated in FIGURE 3, it will be noted that the carton engaging surfaces 192 of the fingers 190, and the carton engaging surfaces of the arms 40 lie in a common vertical plane.

In order to guide each carton as it is being transferred from the chute 22 to the transfer arms 40 of the crimping turret 42, the side wall 71 of the chute 22 is provided with a lower stabilizing end 194 (FIGS. 1 and 2) which projects below the plane of the upper transfer disc 36a and engages the upper portion of one of saidcartons. A frusto-conical ring 196 is bolted to the lower disc 36b and cooperates with the stabilizing end 194 of the chute 22 to guide the carton onto the dead plate 34 in position to be engaged by a pair of coplanar upper and lower fingers 190 of the transfer turret 36. When the fingers 190 are moving the carton along its arcuate path, the carton is guided by an upper arcuate rail 198 and a lower arcuate rail 200. The upper rail 198 is bolted to brackets 202, 204 and 206 that are bolted to the stationary support member 77 thereby supporting the upper rail in fixed position. The lower rail 200 is concentric with the upper rail 198 and is supported by the dead plate 34 by bolts 208 and cooperating spacers 210.

To assure proper seating of the carton against the associated transfer arm 40, three cam segments 212 are bolted to each transfer disc 36a, 36b with a segment being disposed adjacent each transfer finger 190 so as to move the carton outwardly away from the conical ring 196 when the carton contacting surface 192 of the finger 190 engages the carton. As the carton is being moved into the path of movement of the transfer arm, the carton engages an upper cam 216 and a lower cam 218 (FIG. 4) which are associated with the particular transfer arm receiving the carton. A plurality of pairs of evenly spaced upper and lower cams 216 and 218 are provided, with one upper and one lower cam being provided for each coplanar pair of transfer arms 40. The configuration of the carton engaging camming surfaces of the upper and lower cams are identical and are best illustrated in FIGURE 3.

As the carton is moved by a pair of coplanar fingers 190 into position to be engaged by the associated transfer arms 40, one corner of the carton slides along an arcuate surface of lobes 222 (FIG. 3) of the upper and lower cams which lobes cooperate with the ass-ociated fingers 190, arm 40, and cam segments 212 to gently move one side of the carton against an abutment surface 223 of the associated cams 216 and 218. The transfer arms 40 then move the carton out of the path of movement of the transfer fingers 190 and along an arcuate path around the crimping turret 42 and over the dead plate 34. Arcuate guides 224 and 226 are bolted to the dead plate 34 to aid in retaining the carton in desired position against the associated arm 40 and abutment surfaces 223.

As mentioned above the turret 36 transfers cartons from the chute 22 into position to be engaged by alternate ones of the transfer arms 40 of the crimping turret 42. The transfer turret 38 serves to transfer the cartons from the chute 24 into position to be engaged by the remaining transfer arms 40.

Since many parts of the transfer turret 38 are identical to those of the transfer turret 36 just described, and since these parts operate in the same way, only those parts of the turret 38 which are different from the equivalent parts of turret 36 will be described in detail.

Whereas the turret 36 includes three sets of coplanar transfer fingers (FIG. 3) on each disc, each transfer disc 38a and 38b of the turret 38 includes only two fingers 230. The fingers 230 receive cartons from the chute 24, which cartons are guided upon the dead plate 34 by a frusto-conical ring 196a that is slightly smaller than the ring 196, and are advanced in a clockwise direction (FIG. 3) along an arcuate path. The cartons transferred by turret 38 are guided by an upper stationary arcuate rail 232, and a vertically adjustable lower arcuate rail 234. The rails 232 and 234 are supported in a manner similar to the rails 198 and 200, respectively, of transfer turret 36 and guide the cartons against fingers 236 and 238 of an upper gate 240 and a lower gate 242, respectively.

The lower gate 242 (FIGS. 1, 3 and 7) is pivotally connected to the dead plate 34 by a bolt 244 (FIG. 7) which extends upwardly through a tubular spacer 246, through a spacing sleeve 248 which pivotally receives a lower thrust washer 250 and the bushed hub 252 of the lower finger 238, and through an upper thrust washer 254. A torsion spring 256 connected between the lower finger 238 and the spacer 246 normally holds the finger 238 in the path of movement of the carton being transferred by the turret 38. The finger 238 is normally held in the position illustrated in FIGURE 3 by an abutment bar 258 that is welded to the dead plate 34 and engages an abutment surface 260 of the gate 242.

The upper and lower gates are identical except that the upper gate 240 is pivotally connected to the upper stationary rails 198 and 232 and accordingly is not vertically adjustable as is the lower gate 242. It will also be noted that stabilizing end 194 (FIG. 1) of the chute 22 serves as an abutment means for normally holding the upper finger 236 of the upper gate 240 in the position illustrated in FIGURE 3.

When each carton being transferred by the turret 38 is pushed by the transfer fingers 230 against the upper and lower gates, the fingers 236 and 238 are deflected away from the carton against the urging of the torsion springs 256 thereby permitting the carton to be accepted by one of the transfer arms 40 of the crimping turret 42 in a manner that is identical to that described above in regard to the turret 36. As soon as the carton moves past the gates 240 and 242, the torsion springs 256 return the fingers 236 and 238 to the position shown in FIGURE 3. It will be particularly noted that when the fingers 236 and 238 are in the position shown in FIGURE 3, an aicuate surface 264 of each finger is in position to engage the cartons transferred into the crimping turret 42 by the transfer turret 36, and guides these cartons past the transfer turret 38.

After the cartons have been gently transferred by the transfer turrets 36 and 38 to the crimping turret 42, they are moved by the transfer arms 40 off the discharge end 266 (FIG. 3) of the dead plate 34. In order to retain control of the cartons as they are moved off the end of the dead plate 34 and to positively seat the cartons in the carriers 46, which carriers are in alignment with the cartons and are moved along a path below the dead plate 34, the aforementioned crimping heads 44 are used to stabilize the upper ends of the cartons. The crimping heads 44 enter the upper ends of the cartons before the cartons have been advanced off the dead plate 34, and then push the cartons firmly into the associated carriers immediately after the cartons have moved off the dead plate.

The crimping turret 42 (FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 6) includes a stationary column 271 (FIG. 54) which is bolted to the stationary frame 54, a tubular turret drive column 272 journalled on the stationary column 271, and a turret drive sprocket 274. The drive sprocket 274, a splash apron 276, a transfer turret drive gear 278, and a cam shaft drive gear 280 are bolted to a drive hub 282 which is slidably received on the rotatable tubular column 272. The hub 282 is supported on the adjustable frame 50 for movement therewith by an annular support 286 which is bolted to the adjustable frame 59 and has the tubular column 272 projecting upwardly therethrough. A pair of mating thrust bearings 288 and 290 are connected to a drive hub flange 292 on the lower end of the hub 282 and to the annular support 286, respectively, thereby permitting rotation of the hub 282 relative to the annular support 286. An S-shaped bracket 294 bolted to the support 286 and projecting over the hub flange 292 prevents undue separation from occurring between the thrust bearings 288 and 290.

A tool supporting hub 296 is bolted to the upper end of the turret drive column 272 and has an upwardly projecting neck 298 rotatably received about a reduced diameter portion 300 of the stationary column 271. A vertically extending drive post 302 is bolted to the drive hub 282 and projects upwardly through a suitably hushed drive block 304 that is rigid with the tool supporting hub 296. It will be recognized that the drive post 302 transmits rotary motion from the drive hub 282 to the tool supporting hub 296 yet permits vertical motion of the drive hub 282 and associated parts relative to the tool supporting hub 296.

A non-rotatable cam supporting hub 306 is keyed to the reduced diameter portion 300 of the stationary column 271 and has a threaded counterbore in its upper end which receives the threaded body 308 of a height adjustment bushing 310. The bushing 310 includes a small diameter bore 312 journalled on a small diameter portion 314 of the stationary column 271, and a large diameter bore 316 journalled on the portion 300 of the shaft. A handle 318 screwed into the bushing 310 provides means for rotating the bushing and thereby raising or lowering the cam supporting hub 306 to the desired elevation. The cam supporting hub 306 is locked at the desired elevation by a threaded collar 320 which is screwed onto the small diameter portion 314 of the stationary column 271. A handle 322 is screwed into the collar 320 to provide means for readily locking the collar 320 against the bushing 310.

An annular cam 324 is bolted to the cam supporting hub 306 and includes a lower continuous annular vertical adjustment track 326 for controlling the upward vertical movement of the crimping heads 44, and an upper vertical adjustment arcuate track segment 328, for assuring down! ward movement of the crimping head 44 immediately after the associated carton has been moved off the dead plate 34. A transfer arm cam segment 330 is bolted to the lower end of the annular cam 324 as illustrated in FIG- URES 4 and 6.

As indicated in FIGURES 3, 4 and 6, the crimping turret 42 includes six evenly spaced identical carton transfer arm assemblies 334 which are associated with six identical crimping head assemblies 336. Since each assembly 334 and 336 are identical to the other five assemblies on the turret, only one of the carton transfer arm assemblies 334 and only one of the crimping head assemblies 336 will be described in detail.

Each carton transfer arm assembly 334 includes one of the aforementioned transfer arms 40, and each arm 40 comprises an upper arm segment 337 (FIG. 4) and a lower arm segment 338. The upper arm segment 337 is rigidly connected to the lower end of a vertical pivotshaft 339 which is journalled in the tool supporting hub 296 and has an arcuate lever 341 keyed to its upper end. The actuating lever 341 has a cam follower 342 journalled on its free end and arranged to ride along the cumming surface 343 of the cam segment 330 as illustrated in FIG- URE 6. The shaft 339 is pivotally urged in a counter clockwise direction (FIG. 6) by compression springs 344. which are disposed between a boss 346 formed on the lever 341 and a boss 347 formed on the tool support hub 296. The maximum extent of counterclockwise pivotal movement of the shaft 339 is limited by abutment of the. boss 346 against a cap screw 348 which is locked in adjusted position on a crimping head sub-frame 349 by a nut 351.

The lower arm segment 338 is pivotally mounted in a cap screw 352 (FIG. 4) which is screwed into the drive hub 282 and is concentric with the shaft 339. The upper arm segment 337 and lower arm segment 338 are interconnected by a vertically extending rod 353 which is rigidly secured to the lower transfer arm segment 338 and is slidably received in the upper arm segment 337. Thus, the pivotal movement imparted to the upper arm segment 337 by the cam segment 330 will also be imparted to the lower arm segment 338 through the rod 353. Also, the rod may slide vertically relative to the upper arm segment 337 when the frame 50 is raised or lowered to accommodate the several sizes of cartons.

As will be apparent from FIGURE 6, the cap screw 348 associated with each transfer arm assembly 334 is locked in position which will maintain carton engaging surfaces of the upper arm segment 337 (FIG. 3) and lower arm segment 338 in a vertical plane parallel with the trailing wall of the particular carrier 46 disposed therebelow. The segments 337 and 338 of each arm 40 remain in this plane until they have contacted and moved the associated carton off the dead plate 34 for acceptance by the carrier 46 positioned therebelow.

When the cartons are being moved by the segments 337 and 338 of the transfer arms 40 oil the plate 34 (FIG. 3), arcuate guiding surfaces of the guide plates 224 and 226, respectively, aid in assuring that the cartons move along the desired arcuate path by preventing movement of the cartons radially outward of the turret 42. The aforementioned upper cams 216 and lower cams 218 prevent radial inward movement of the cartons during movement of the cartons in an arcuate path along the, dead plate 34. The upper carri s 216 are formed as flanges on the lower ends of brackets 358 (FIGS. 2 and 4.) that are bolted to the tool supporting hub 296. The lower cams 218 are connected to an annular ring 359 (FIG. 4) by bolts 361 and cooperating spacers 362. The ring 359 is connected to the drive hub 282 by the cap screws 352.

After moving the cartons off the end 266 of the dead plate 34 and into the carriers 46 positioned therebelow, the cam segment 330 (FIG. 6) engages the cam follower 342 causing the arms segments 337 and 338 to pivot rearwardly away from the cartons and to remain in this position until the cartons have been advanced out of the crimping turret 42 by the conveyor 48.

Each crimping head assembly 336 includes the subframe 349 (FIGS. 2 and 4) which is bolted to the tool supporting hub 296. The frame 349 includes upper and lower hubs 363 which slidably receive a tubular crimping head supporting shaft 364. One of the crimping heads 44 is rigidly secured to the tubular shaft 364 by an elongated rod 367 that is screwed into the crimping head 44 and is clamped against the shaft 364 by a nut 368 (FIG. 2) on the upper end of the rod 367. A split block 369 is rigidly clamped on the shaft 364 and has a first cam follower 371 journalled thereon. The first cam follower 371 is rotatably received in a vertical channel cam track 372 defined by parallel bars 373 and 374 bolted to the sub-frame 349 and positively prevents rotation of the shaft 364 and crimping head 44 relative to the sub-frame 349.

In order to vertically reciprocate the crimping head 44 in timed relation with the rotation of the turret 42, a second cam follower 376 (FIGS. 2 and 4) is journalled on the split block 369 and rides along the cam track 326. It will be appreciated that the upper cam track segment 328 also engages the cam follower 376 in order to assure positive downward movement of the crimping head 44 immediately after the associated carton has been moved off the discharge end 266 of the dead plate 34.

The specific details of the crimping heads 44 form no palt of the present invention except for the fact that each head includes a body portion 378 which enters the open end of the associated carton to stabilize the same when the carton is moved off the discharge end 266 of the dead plate 34. Also, each head includes crimping fingers 380 which abut the upper edges of the carton and serve to force the carton down into the associated carrier 46 after the carton has been moved off the dead plate.

The aforementioned drive for the transfer turrets 36 and 38 and for the cam shaft 97 is clearly illustrated in FIGURE 5. As mentioned previously, the crimping turret 42 is continuously driven by the conveyor 48 thereby continuously driving the transfer drive gear 278 and the cam shaft drive gear 280. The transfer drive gear 278 meshes with and is the same size as the gear 152 and accordingly drives the transfer turret 36 at the same speed and in a direction opposite to that of the crimping turret 42. The gear 152 drives the idler gear 168 which drives the gear 162 of the transfer turret 38 in the same direction as transfer turret 36. The size of the gears 162 and 168 is such as to drive the turret 38 one and one-half times as fast as the crimping turret 42. Thus, when the transfer arms 40 and transfer fingers 190, 230 are in the positions shown in FIGURE 3, they are moving in the same direction and at the same speed thereby assuring a gentle transfer of the cartons between the transfer turrets 36 and 38 and the crimping turret 42.

In the operation of the feeding apparatus 23 of the present invention, cartons are deflected one at a time from the accumulating guideways 26 and 28 by the pushers 30 and 32 into the chutes 22 and 24, respectively. The chutes 22 and 24 deflect the cartons from a horizontal to a vertical position. The cartons are accurately guided onto the dead plate 34 by the frusto-conical guide rings 196 and 196a of transfer turrets 36 and 38 into positions to be received by the transfer fingers 190 and 23f) of the transfer turrets 36 and 38, respectively. The fingers 190 and 230 then advance the cartons around their respective transfer turrets and gently transfer them into position to be received by the transfer arms 40 of the crimping turret 42. The cartons being transferred by the turret 38 engage and pivot the upper gate 240 and lower gate 242 out of their paths of movement, and the gates thereafter spring back into the position shown in FIGURE 3 so as to aid in guiding therepast the cartons transferred to the crimping turret by the transfer turret 36. It will be particularly noted that the cartons from each turret 36 and 38 are transferred into position to be received by alternate ones of the arms 40, and that the speeds of the transfer arms 40 and the transfer fingers 192 and 230 are the same during transfer. As the cartons are moved by the arms 49 along the dead plate 34, the crimping heads 44 are lowered into the upper ends of the cartons to stabilize the upper ends, and as the cartons move off the end 266 of the dead plate 34, crimping heads 44 move downwardly to firmly seat each carton into the associated carrier 46 as indicated in FIGURES 8 and 9. The crimping heads 44 are thereafter raised from the cartons and the cartons are moved to other processing stations by the conveyor 48.

From the foregoing description it is apparent that the carton feeding apparatus of the present invention includes two transfer turrets driven at different speeds and having different numbers of transfer fingers thereon for gently and reliably transferring cartons from two rows into a single row. The apparatus also includes a pivotal gate which is associated with one transfer turret and also serves to guide cartons therepast which had previously been transferred into the single row by the other transfer turret. Stabilizing means are also provided for engaging the upper end of each carton so as to stabilize the carton as it is moved along the dead plate in the single row, and for thereafter positively seating each carton into the associated carrier disposed therebelow.

While one embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, it will :be understood that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

The present invention and the manner in which the same is to be used having thus been described, what is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is:

1. A carton feeding apparatus comprising means for storing a supply of cartons in two vertical columns, means for discharging a carton from each column of stored cartons, a dead plate for receiving the cartons discharged from the supply of cartons at two spaced transfer points, first rotary means for engaging a first carton at said first transfer point and for sliding said first carton along a first arcuate path over said dead plate, second rotary means for engaging a second carton at said second transfer point and for sliding said second cart-on along a second arcuate path over said dead plate, third rotary means having transfer means movable along a path tangent to both said first arcuate path and said second arcuate path for receiving said first and second cartons and for advancing both of said cartons along a single path off one end of said dead plate, and conveying means disposed below said dead plate and movable at the same speed and along the same path as said third rotary means for receiving said cartons.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 and additionally comprising carton seating means carried by said third rotary means for engaging the upper end of each carton immediately before the carton moves off said dead plate and for urging each carton downwardly onto said conveying means immediately after the carton has moved off said dead plate.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2 including means for driving said first, second, and third rotary means at the same peripheral speed and in the same direction at said points of tangency so as to gently transfer said first and second cartons from said first and second rotary means to said third rotary means.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said first rotary means includes three sets of carton engaging transfer fingers and said second rotary means includes two sets of transfer fingers.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4 and additionally comprising arcuate guide rings disposed around said first and said second rotary means, a gate pivotally mounted at the intersection of said guide rings and alternately disposed in the path of movement of said second rotary means and said third rotary means, resilient means con nected to said gate for normally holding said gate in the path of movement of said second rotary means and in position to guide said first carton therepast along said arcuate path of said third rotary means, said gate being deflected out of the path of movement of said second rotary means as said second rotary means transfers said second cart-on into the path of movement of said third rotary means.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5 including means for vertically adjusting the space between said sets of fingers so as to accommodate cartons of different heights.

7. An apparatus according to claim 3 and additionally comprising cam means on said third rotary means adjacent one of said transfer means for engaging one corner of said second carton as the second carton is being transferred from said second path to said third path, a stopping plate secured to said cam and positioned to engage one side of the carton when moved completely into said third path, and second cam means on said second rotary means for engaging the opposite side of said second carton for forcing said second carton into said third path against said stop means.

8. An apparatus according to claim 5 and additionally comprising cam means on said third rotary means adjacent one of said transfer means for engaging one corner of said second carton as the carton is being transferred from said second path to said third path, a stopping plate secured to said cam and positioned to engage one side of the carton when moved completely into said third path, and second cam means on said second rotary means for engaging the opposite side of said second carton for forcing said second carton into said third path against said stop means.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8 and additionally comprising means for vertically adjusting the space between said sets of fingers so as to accommodate cartons of different heights.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said dead plate includes an arcuate segment :below said third path that is disposed at a lower elevation than the remaining portion of said dead plate so as to receive and guide the lower portion of the carton along said third path.

No references cited.

EVON C. BLUNK, Primary Examiner.

A. C. HODGSON, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A CARTON FEEDING APPARATUS COMPRISING MEANS FOR STORING A SUPPLY OF CARTONS IN TWO VERTICAL COLUMNS, MEANS FOR DISCHARGING A CARTON FROM EACH COLUMN OF STORED CARTONS, A DEAD PLATE FOR RECEIVING THE CARTONS DISCHARGED FROM THE SUPPLY OF CARTONS AT TWO SPACED TRANSFER POINTS, FIRST ROTARY MEANS FOR ENGAGING A FIRST CARTON AT SAID FIRST TRANSFER POINT AND FOR SLIDING SAID FIRST CARTON ALONG A FIRST ARCUATE PATH OVER SAID DEAD PLATE, SECOND ROTARY MEANS FOR ENGAGING A SECOND CARTON AT SAID SECOND ROTARY FER POINT AND FOR SLIDING SAID SECOND CARTON ALONG A SECOND ARCUATE PATH OVER SAID DEAD PLATE, THIRD ROTARY MEANS HAVING TRANSFER MEANS MOVABLE ALONG A PATH TANGENT TO BOTH SAID FIRST ARCUATE PATH AND SAID SECOND ARCUATE PATH FOR RECEIVING SAID FIRST AND SECOND CARTONS AND FOR ADVANCING BOTH OF SAID CARTONS ALONG A SINGLE PATH OFF ONE END OF SAID DEAD PLATE, AND CONVEYING MEANS DISPOSED BELOW SAID DEAD PLATE AND MOVABLE AT THE SAME SPEED AND ALONG 